Projects
Based at the BAW's headquarters in Karlsruhe, the Department of Structural Engineering is involved in projects all over Germany. The following selected projects provide an insight into the broad range of tasks the Department's Sections are challenged with - tasks, that require a competent, analytical and purposeful manner of working, also across the Sections. The Department also employs external skills, if necessary.
- No joints - no problems. The renaissance of the monolithic construction method
Almost 90 per cent of the Waterways and Shipping Offices, responsible for navigational locks, have already faced difficulties in the form of damage to joints or waterstops. This was the result of a BAW survey in the year 2004. Other publications reveal that this problem is not restricted merely to hydraulic engineering: according to Kordina (1996) after 25 years, 80 per cent of expansion joints show evidence of leakage, while Morgen (2003) describes joints in structures as 'weak points that are expensive to produce and, in the event of leakages, complicated and expensive to repair.'
more ...- A management system supports the repair planning
The value of the constructions of the German Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) is estimated at EUR 40 billion. In order for nobody to get hurt on or around these constructions and to guarantee their functionality, the WSV carries out structural inspections on a regular basis. In this context, the constructions are inspected for damage. Eventual damage is determined, evaluated and stored in the central database, WSVPruf.
more ...- Standardization of the Neckar locks
The projected extension of the locks on the river Neckar is to enable very long (135m) large motorboats to pass through in the future. Under the central coordination of the Department of Structural Engineering, different Sections of the Departments of Structural Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering worked on feasibility studies with regard to standardized procedures and structural elements for the lock extension.
more ...- Innovative concepts for hydraulic steel structures - folded-plate systems
In recent years folded-plate constructions have been designed and in many cases built for various types of gate as an alternative to conventional crossbeam structures. The empirical evidence so far available shows that this type of design has a positive impact on parameters such as production and preservation, bearing capacity redundancy, fatigue resistance, ease of maintenance and inspection, and maintenance costs.
more ...- The new ship lift at Niederfinow
The new ship lift currently being constructed by the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV) at Niederfinow will be a spectacular technical structure in the immediate vicinity of two important historic monuments. Not only the dimensions of this unique structure amaze both professionals and interested members of the general public, but also the incredible engineering achievement behind these plans.
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